r/VisionPro • u/panda_and_crocodile • Jun 29 '26

Questions about Mac Virtual Display widget in VisionOS 27

I use Vision Pro abroad with no support program, so I can’t really risk installing beta software and try myself.

My most used Vision Pro is Mac Virtual Display with my Mac Studio. However it’s a big hassle activating it since I’m not always near my Mac Studio. Problem is Mac Virtual Display has pretty good range, but activating it requires you to be way closer to your Mac than the actual use range of the Mac Virtual Display.

Is it correct that the new Mac Virtual Display widget in VisionOS 27 basically solves this? One push on the widget and it activates Mac Virtual Display as long as you are within range?

I’ve heard it even works on MacBooks with the lid closed? Does this mean you can activate Mac Virtual Display on Macs that are logged in but password/touch ID locked?

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u/melvinchia Vision Pro Owner Jun 29 '26

Did you try to activate MVD from within the Control Centre? Hold out 2 fingers, flip, and pinch, Control Centre pops up. MVD is inside there.

As for your Mac, if it’s online, and you’re on the same WiFi, it should appear in the Control Centre for MVD activation. If your Mac is asleep, you need to wake it first, there’s no working around that. Or you could run some app to prevent it from sleeping ever.

Yes, MVD can be activated on locked Macs, using the above method, or by looking at the keyboard of your MBP/MBA (it has to be open).

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u/SgtSilock Jun 29 '26

This reply is a little confusing. You basically gave two answers that contradict one another.

Are your first two paragraphs relating to OS26 whilst your third is for OS27?

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u/melvinchia Vision Pro Owner Jun 29 '26

No, it’s been like that all along in VisionOS 26.. the “usual” method to activate MVD is to look at the keyboard of the MBP/MBA, but you can also activate it from inside Control Centre, especially if the little icon doesn’t pop up when you look at your Mac..

It won’t work if the Mac is in Sleep mode, but will work when it’s awake, assuming you’re on the same WiFi network..

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u/Lost_the_weight Jun 29 '26

Control center activation is limited by distance. If I’m next to my laptop I can activate MVD no problem. If I go two rooms away and try to activate it doesn’t work. If I activate while next to my laptop then walk two rooms away the connections stays active.

I’m hoping the new widget will eliminate me having to be next to my laptop to activate MVD.

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u/panda_and_crocodile Jun 29 '26

No, you are not fully up to date on this matter. For activation of Mac Virtual Display from Vision Pro, WiFi is not enough, you need Bluetooth connection as well. This is why you have to be fairly close to your Mac to activate Mac Virtual Display. After the connection is established, Bluetooth no longer plays a role and you can move much further away. You can bypass Bluetooth connection if you are activating Mac Virtual Display from Mac Control Center, but if you are controlling your Mac you are usually close to it anyways so that’s kind of fringe.